Texas Hold 'em

Howdy folks.


Just a quick update from Houston. As you can see from our map - we're still here. Houston is going pretty well. Tracy's still working for her dad and I'm still getting up early, going into work with her and keeping her company while she works. I'd like to point out to all concerned (and the US IRS and Nationalization services) that I'm not working at the office at all - I'm just sitting here surfing the web. Some would say that that's what I'd be doing if I were actually working here too - but then they'd be cynical, bitter and twisted individuals. So there!

We continue to get updates from Seattle as to the state of our goddaughter's development (both physical, mental and spiritual) which is just as well because we need to keep a close eye on her in case she is led astray. I think we'll be safe for a few years yet though...

Apart from working (and not working) we're not really up to much - there's not really much time to do much else. We have managed to get a hostel for Cancun where we'll be meeting up with little brother Tam (or peg-leg Tam, Ascension Island Guest [RIP], Mexi-Tam, various other personae non dramatis [or gratis?] on this site). Unfortunately that's about all we've planned so far.

Finally, we are now the proud owners of a tiny little laptop with which we will be able better to stay in touch. This little machine will pick up wireless networks, upload photos, browse websites and suchlike all from the palm of one's hand. It even has a full (if slightly miniaturised) keyboard. Amazing!

Note: this is not my pic. I half-inched it off the net.
Anyhow - a few more weeks here and then we'll be off! Unfortunately, we still don't know where. That's my next project. You'd think with all my free time I'd get something setup... Damn you facebook Texas Hold 'em Poker!!!

The Incredible Journey

Sit back and rest your weary feet, traveler, for this be the tale of our epic trek from Seattle to Houston. We braved snowstorms, long hours and bureaucratic incompetence to get from the extreme northwest of the US almost to the very southern limits of that great country.

It started off in foul weather and amid chaotic scenes of too many people trying to fit into too small of a space.


We knew that the Seattle bus terminal would be busy, but having had buses cancelled for two days in a row, things were not helped by an initial delay of two hours when our scheduled bus driver didn't turn up and they had to find someone else.

We rolled into Salt Lake City in Utah without much more of a delay (only about 3 hours at this point) to find that the schedules had effectively gone out the window and we were facing another delay while they figured out what to do with us. Luckily, the delay wasn't too bad, but we still left Utah without much idea when - or indeed if - we'd get to Denver, let alone whether there'd be a bus to take us any further.


All the while we passed by some awe-inspiring landscapes - awe-inspiring not only because they were incredibly beautiful, but also that we had to travel in such treacherous conditions.


We finally did get to Denver after 30 hours of travel only to find that our connecting bus had gone and we'd have to wait another 3 hours. The 3 hours became 5 as the driver overslept (he forgot to set an alarm!) and we finally left Denver at 3am.

On our way to Amarillo, TX (yes, now I do know the way there!) we managed to get some sleep - finally! It was quite fortunate timing because the weather took a turn for the worse and apparently driving conditions were rather harrowing! By this time we'd built up quite a close knit-band of fellow travellers who we'd ascertained were going roughly the same way. We all consoled each other with each fresh delay, watched out for each other's places in the queues we found ourselves in and shared any details of Greyhound's incompetence which we thought may have escaped each other's notice. We found camaraderie in each new adversity.

Anyway, on arrival at Amarillo, we were relieved to find that the connecting bus had waited for us. Unfortunately, it was found to have a transmission fluid leak and would have to be repaired.


Amarillo bus station - note lack of buses!
After the "15-20 minute" repair was completed (i.e. an hour and a half later) we set off for Dallas. It was getting right down to the wire whether we'd make our connection or not (the connecting bus was due to leave at 10:30 and we would arrive at almost 10:45) and all attempts to call the bus station failed. Luckily, Greyhound didn't disappoint and this bus was late too (finally it worked in our favour) and we managed to clamber aboard.

By this time we were on the final stretch and the 4 and a half hours seemed to fly by as things gradually became more and more familiar. We only had to negotiate the crowd of taxi-drivers at the door of the bus terminal before we were winging our way towards the northern suburbs of Houston and the first horizontal nights sleep in 60 hours or so.

Total time from arrival at Seattle bus station to arrival at the Thompsons' house: 66 hours.

Storm Chasing...

After being turned back to Seattle, we decided our best bet was to keep an eye on the weather and try to get a bus as soon as it looked like we might get out rather than spend every waking hour at the bus station. The weather in Seattle has been grey and drizzly but nothing too bad - our problems are with the weather up in the mountain passes where it's snowing a blizzard.

The upside of our being delayed is that we have had more time to spend with Bart, Lauren and Kirsten. We were quite anxious that we didn't disrupt their lives too much - all our trips to Seattle so far have been characterised by us staying longer than we've meant to - but they were good enough to let us come over and spend some more time with their wee family. If we're still in Seattle over the next couple of days, we'll be amusing ourselves - we've already said goodbye twice!

So what next for us? Well, next bus we can get on that's likely to get out of Seattle, we'll try to get on. We may need to sharpen the elbows though - these buses have been stopped for a couple of days now, so there may be some competition for spaces! Hopefully the next update will be from Houston - or at least somewhere outside of the state of Washington.

Nodens snowed-ins!

Hello again from Seattle!

Those observant souls amongst you will realise that we should at this very moment be winging our way to Texas on board a Greyhound bus. Unfortunately, the roads have all been closed due to snow!


Here's what the US weather service says about it:

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
1221 PM PST FRI JAN 4 2008

ORZ003-004-010-012-WAZ040-050830-
/O.EXB.KPQR.SB.Y.0001.080105T1200Z-080106T0000Z/
COAST RANGE OF NORTHWEST OREGON-
CENTRAL COAST RANGE OF WESTERN OREGON-
NORTHERN OREGON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
CASCADE FOOTHILLS IN LANE COUNTY-
SOUTH WASHINGTON CASCADE FOOTHILLS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VERNONIA...JEWELL...TRASK...
GRANDE RONDE...TIDEWATER...SWISSHOME...SANDY...
SILVER FALLS STATE PARK...SWEET HOME...VIDA...LOWELL...
COTTAGE GROVE...TOUTLE...ARIEL...COUGAR
1221 PM PST FRI JAN 4 2008

SNOW WILL INCREASE SATURDAY IN THE COAST RANGE AND CASCADE FOOTHILLS OF NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON. SNOW LEVELS FALL TO AROUND 2000 FEET IN THE MORNING AND 1500 FEET LATER IN THE DAY. FROM 2 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE IN THE COAST RANGE AND 2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN THE CASCADE FOOTHILLS. ADDITIONALLY WINDS WILL GUST INTO THE 40 MPH RANGE AT TIMES WITH AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

The storms have hit northern California, but are dumping snow and rain across the northwestern mountains - unfortunately, that's right across our route!

More details when circumstances allow...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008!